WEB-BASED MULTIMEDIA GIS FOR HISTORICAL SITES
Z. Duran a, A. Garagon Doğru b, G. Toz a
a
b
ITU, Civil Engineering Faculty, 34469 Maslak Istanbul, Turkey - (duranza, tozg)@itu.edu.tr
BU, Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, Geodesy Department, 34680 Cengelkoy Istanbul,
Turkey - garagon@boun.edu.tr
Commission V, WG V/4
KEY WORDS: Multimedia, GIS, Visualization, Internet/Web, Cultural Heritage, Web based
ABSTRACT:
With the recent developments in web-based GIS applications, the process of accessing, sharing, disseminating and analyzing data
has changed. Web-based GIS uses the Internet to access and transmit data and the analysis tools to enhance the visualization and
integration of spatial data. Multimedia GIS also allows the users to access a wide range of multimedia data. Integration of webbased GIS and multimedia provides the users the tools to analyze and visualize both spatial data and associated multimedia data on
the Internet. The aim of this study is to develop and operate a web-based multimedia GIS application for a historical site. In this
study, data acquired from different sources were compiled by using GIS software’s, a GIS application was developed, and a web site
was configured to serve the system on the Internet. Linking spatial data with multimedia information facilitates the inventory,
evaluation, and preservation of historic sites. By means of this study, the various type of collected information can be disseminated
to end users (i.e., planners, managers, and public) with low technological requirements.
1. INTRODUCTION
Multimedia is a technology that encompasses various types of
data and presents them in an integrated form. There are several
types of data that are used by the technology, including text,
graphics, hyperlinks, images, sound, digital and analogue video
and animation.
Although many GIS have been successfully implemented, it has
become quite clear that two-dimensional maps cannot precisely
present multidimensional and dynamic spatial phenomena.
Moreover, there is a growing need towards accessing spatial
data. It seems that merging GIS and Multimedia is a way to
deal with these issues.
The latest advances in computer industry especially in hardware
have led to the development of the Multimedia and
Geographical Information System (GIS) technologies.
Multimedia provides communications using text, graphics,
animation, and video. Multimedia GIS systems is a way to
overcome the limitations displayed by the technologies when
they are used separately. Multimedia can extend GIS
capabilities of presenting geographic and other information.
The combination of several media often results in a powerful
and richer presentation of information and ideas to stimulate
interest and enhance information retention. They can also make
GIS more friendly and easier to use. On the other hand,
multimedia can benefit from GIS by gaining an environment
which facilitates the use and analysis of spatial data. The result
is a system, which has the advantages of both worlds without
retaining most of their disadvantages.
The primary focus of this study is the inventory, evaluation,
preservation, and documentation of historic structures and sites.
GIS greatly facilitates the mapping, recording, and management
of spatial and non-spatial historical data. In order to determine
significance of historic structures, a historical structures
database was developed. Information about these buildings is
entered into the database; it is linked to the GIS. Then, a
historical structures web page has been posted on the Internet.
This web page provides the current status of historical buildings
and connects to multimedia tools. Access to this web page
allows users to obtain the most recent information pertaining to
historic structures. Some structure’s status is featured on its
own page with links to multimedia tools such as photos, video,
maps, 3D models, and CAD models and also related textual
information.
2. CASE STUDY
2.1 Study area and data
Fatih (Zeyrek) district of Istanbul, Turkey was selected for the
case study because it is one of the oldest settlements of the city.
Zeyrek is situated at the slopes of the fourth hill in the Historic
Peninsula in Istanbul (Gülersoy, 2001).
Data were provided from Municipality of Metropolis Istanbul in
the scale of 1:1000 digital maps and at Micro Station file format
(dgn). These digital data were transferred into AutoCAD file
format and the number of these layers reduced in AutoCAD.
ESRI Arc View software was used for browsing the data and
examining the datasets. (Duran, 2003). Attribute information of
the features such as name of the quarter, name of the street,
number of the door, functionality of the building, basement,
medium floor, roof, total floor, condition of the building,
registration, name of the building, construction date, financer,
style of the building etc. were stored in the database table. Data
processing is displayed in Figure 1.
Also some of non-topographic information for feature
(attributes) such quarter name, street name, door number,
building functionality, basement, medium floor, roof, total
floor, building condition, registration, building name,
construction date, financer, architecture etc. were stored in the
database table. Afterwards digital terrain model (DTM) of study
area was being produced and captured with orthophoto in Arc
View software. This model is shown Figure 2.
Figure 1: Data processing.
In the past digital terrain models (DTM) and geographic
information systems (GIS) were developed isolated from each
other. Both tools exist for about 30 years. The applications of
today require more and more the three-dimensional reference
surface for GIS, although temporary aspects demand for four
dimensions including time as additional reference parameter.
Most applications nowadays use 2D GIS for display, storage
and analyses. But many applications require a model of the
surface to calculate the height or the slope at certain points.
Many GIS have additional terrain modellers to make use of
height data in form of a regular grid or a triangulated irregular
network (TIN).
To add a digital terrain model to a GIS results only in a 2.5D
GIS because it is not possible to model a solid. A simple and
convenient way is to add descriptions of man-made objects like
buildings to planimetric objects and attaching them to the
surface. In CAD applications different solid models are
available. 3D GIS may thereby provide a more realistic
representation of the modelled world. Some draw-backs are
more expensive data management and the problem of data
acquisition. Normally you can only expect to extract the
(average) height of buildings and not an exact reconstruction of
the building (Fritsch and Schmidt, 1995).
Figure 2. DTM of study area captured with orthophoto and,
showing part of attributes table for the monastery of Christ
Pantepoptes
Multimedia refers to the use of computers to deliver
information using a combination of media types such as text,
graphics, audio, video, and animation. Multimedia GIS on the
internet provides the comprehensive documentation and
management of cultural heritage. Multimedia GIS based on
Web allows the user to access a wide range of geo referenced
multimedia data (e.g., simulations, images, and videos)
(Prakash, 1998). Figure 2 displays data from different sources
including multimedia data are stored into the database.
We have two kinds of databases: the one who has the graphical
and geometrical data and the other who has the alphanumeric
data related to the graphical data. The first one will be
generated from the photogrametric digital system or from other
graphical external files (like digitized plans, amateur
photographs etc.). The second one will be handled with the
DBMS ACCESS. Both databases will be linked and managed
together by the GIS software Arc View 3.2, creating the
information system.
Objects are being built by linking spatial data (point, lines or
polygons that are defined by geometry and topology) with nongraphic information in GIS. Coverage, also called as layer, is
the basic unit of storage in Arc/Info. In this study Arc/Info has
been used for the establishment of topology of the coverage.
Then the coverage has been imported to Arc View software.
This software has been produced as a vector based GIS but also
it has limited use of raster base data as well. In addition to
several querying and analysis advantage, the result of these
attributes.
Digital data in Dgn format has 25 different layers. These digital
data were transferred into AutoCAD format and number of
these layers reduced in AutoCAD (Duran and Toz, 2002).
Figure 2: Different kinds of data from various sources into
database.
VRML for visualising in 3D offers a platform and software
independent file format. Users can easily interact with a 3D
model in this form, walking or flying around it. VRML can also
be viewed on the web. In this study, Cosmo VRML plug-in
which is available free was used. Virtual reality model of the
area is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Virtual reality model of the study area.
2.2 Web integration
In the application, the user sends the map parameters over the
Internet, and the map image is formed according to the setting
parameters. In Figure 4, the architecture of the application is
shown.
Figure 5: Web-based GIS application for visualizing data and
functions for retrieving information from database.
In Figure 6, multimedia application based on Web is displayed.
It has multimedia tools such as textual information, hyperlinks,
images, video, and virtual reality.
Figure 4: Architecture of web-based multimedia GIS
application.
Map Objects ActiveX software component and Map Objects
Internet Map Server (MOIMS) software were used in the study.
Map Objects builds GIS application and MOIMS is a gateway
program between Web Server and the mapping application
(Garagon, 2002). These tools were embedded into a Visual
Basic file. All map layers and functions on the web page were
added by writing codes in the Visual Basic. Microsoft Internet
Information Services program was used for information sharing
over the Internet. Figure 5 shows the application on the Web.
The web page contains an interactive map container, which
displays the map layers, a toolbar column, which is used for
querying buildings, and a legend column, which is an
explanatory table of the map features. Users can use the map
interactively by performing GIS functions such as zoom, pan,
identify, and queries (Duran, 2003).
Figure 6: Web-based multimedia application provides text,
hyperlinks, and images for exploring multimedia information.
3. CONCLUSIONS
An Architectural Information System with the modules and
special archives provides the possibility for the comprehensive
documentation of architectural cultural heritage. The pictures
can be used for the documentation of pending and actual
damages on buildings and sculptures. The information system
will help the public to form a view on the development process
of their urban environment. The awareness for the importance
of the cultural heritage will be raised.
3D city models as components of geographic information
systems provide for the integration of the vast and
heterogeneous data required in energy use patterns, social
statistics and utilities. This kind of information can be very
helpful for city administration.
The study includes many types of data and algorithms from the
field of computer vision, computer graphics, photogrammetry,
networking and databases. In the study, several software tools
were used for processing input data, storing them in a database
and presenting on the web.
Information is available for several different types of user and
purposes. The system links scientists, policy makers and
specific interest groups. Internet GIS with various multimedia
opens up the world of GIS to a much wider set of participants.
Furthermore, 2D maps cannot present multidimensional and
dynamic spatial phenomena. Merging GIS and multimedia is a
way to do this.
4. REFERENCES
Duran, Z., Garagon Dogru, A., Toz, G., 2003. Protecting
Cultural Heritage By New Technologies. In: International
Symposium CIPA, Turkey.
Duran, Z. and Toz, G., 2002. Integration of GIS for Cultural
Heritage Documentation, XXX IAHS World Congress on
Housing, Housing Construction, An Interdisciplinary Task,
September 9-13, Portugal, Vol.I, p.597-605.
Fritsch, D. and Schmidt, D., 1995. The Object-oriented DTM in
GIS, Photogrammetric Week '95', Wichmann Verlag,
Heidelberg, pp. 29-34.
Garagon, A., et al., 2002. Interactive Earthquake Information
on the Internet. In: International Symposium on GIS, Turkey.
Gülersoy, Z., N., Tezer, A., Yiğiter, R., Ahunbay, Z., 2001,
Zeyrek a Study in Conservation, Istanbul Technical University,
Faculty of Architecture, Istanbul, Pp. 37-38.
Prakash, A., 1998. Geographical Information Systems-An
Overview, Indian Institute of Information Technology.